COMM 150
Methodologies in Communication Research
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: Economics 41 or Statistics 10. Limited to Communication majors. Examination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies in communication research. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
1 of 2
Most Helpful Review
While everyone else is mostly interested in discussing Groper's monotone voice or boring lectures, I would simply like to add that he is the most unorganized, unqualified and ignorant professor I have ever had. Taking his class was an insult to my intelligence, and his condescending attitude is absolutely unnecessary. If you are looking at this to decide whether or not to take his class, don't. Not even if it fits your schedule perfectly. It will ruin your entire quarter.
While everyone else is mostly interested in discussing Groper's monotone voice or boring lectures, I would simply like to add that he is the most unorganized, unqualified and ignorant professor I have ever had. Taking his class was an insult to my intelligence, and his condescending attitude is absolutely unnecessary. If you are looking at this to decide whether or not to take his class, don't. Not even if it fits your schedule perfectly. It will ruin your entire quarter.
Most Helpful Review
Research methods is certainly not the most exciting class you can take, but it's mandatory, at least for comm majors. If you have to take it, I would recommend taking it with Professor Haselton. The reading material is dry, but she did her best to provide examples and analogies to help you learn. She shared her research on relationships and applied them to the course. Evolutionary psychology is an interesting field of study, and Haselton introduces some ideas in her methods class. Besides the studies on relationships, the class discussions were best. Haselton's TA, Elizabeth, is amazing! She was always willing to help you with your research proposal paper, which is a good assignment btw, and has a million ideas to give you if you can't come up with your own. Back to Haselton though, she is extremely organized, though I don't remember the last time a professor used overheads. They are helpful because she posts them online afterwards. She lectures well and clearly, but it almost seems like she's too nice. It shouldn't take a class as long as it did to settle down. Haselton should be more assertive in that regards. And the tests. I personally thought the questions, multiple choice and short answer/essay, were completely fair. Nothing was a surprise or worded funny, but straightforward. About the class, it was somewhat strange because there were so few guys, but I suppose that is the comm student body. Also, as others have noted, Haselton is probably one of the best looking professors on campus. Man, she never had a bad hair day...ever.
Research methods is certainly not the most exciting class you can take, but it's mandatory, at least for comm majors. If you have to take it, I would recommend taking it with Professor Haselton. The reading material is dry, but she did her best to provide examples and analogies to help you learn. She shared her research on relationships and applied them to the course. Evolutionary psychology is an interesting field of study, and Haselton introduces some ideas in her methods class. Besides the studies on relationships, the class discussions were best. Haselton's TA, Elizabeth, is amazing! She was always willing to help you with your research proposal paper, which is a good assignment btw, and has a million ideas to give you if you can't come up with your own. Back to Haselton though, she is extremely organized, though I don't remember the last time a professor used overheads. They are helpful because she posts them online afterwards. She lectures well and clearly, but it almost seems like she's too nice. It shouldn't take a class as long as it did to settle down. Haselton should be more assertive in that regards. And the tests. I personally thought the questions, multiple choice and short answer/essay, were completely fair. Nothing was a surprise or worded funny, but straightforward. About the class, it was somewhat strange because there were so few guys, but I suppose that is the comm student body. Also, as others have noted, Haselton is probably one of the best looking professors on campus. Man, she never had a bad hair day...ever.
AD
Most Helpful Review
The first time I sat in Professor Hobb's Lecture, I though that I was going to dread going to her classes. Her lectures seemed really boring at first but after awhile I began to really enjoy her classes, and now I think she is a awsome instructor. She has a great sense of humor and she makes the class interesting by making crazy comments about the course material. She also makes to material easy to understand and easy to remember, she goes over the material over and over again until it's just stuck in your head. The first half of the class is spent reviewing, and the second half of the class is spent going through the new cases. She tells you what you need to know in the cases, and all you have to do is highlight it in your book. Professor Hobbs ins't a difficult teacher at all, but the course itself can be a little tough because it involves a lot of analysis. But if you're thinking about going to law school, you should definitly take this class. Also, Professor Hobbs is really approachable outside of class and really cares about her students. When you talk to her outside of class she does not act like she's higher than you because she has a J.D. and a Ph.D, she treats you like you're on the same level as her. Take her class, you won't regret it.
The first time I sat in Professor Hobb's Lecture, I though that I was going to dread going to her classes. Her lectures seemed really boring at first but after awhile I began to really enjoy her classes, and now I think she is a awsome instructor. She has a great sense of humor and she makes the class interesting by making crazy comments about the course material. She also makes to material easy to understand and easy to remember, she goes over the material over and over again until it's just stuck in your head. The first half of the class is spent reviewing, and the second half of the class is spent going through the new cases. She tells you what you need to know in the cases, and all you have to do is highlight it in your book. Professor Hobbs ins't a difficult teacher at all, but the course itself can be a little tough because it involves a lot of analysis. But if you're thinking about going to law school, you should definitly take this class. Also, Professor Hobbs is really approachable outside of class and really cares about her students. When you talk to her outside of class she does not act like she's higher than you because she has a J.D. and a Ph.D, she treats you like you're on the same level as her. Take her class, you won't regret it.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2024 - Professor Kernell structured the class so that there were in person lectures on Tuesdays (75 minutes) and virtual lectures in place of Thursday's classes (30-45 minutes). I didn't mind this layout, as it allowed more flexibility for me to learn at my own pace. However, the virtual lectures were often clearer than the in person lectures and the professor very clearly struggled to explain concepts to students. In response, she would lead us through practice problems but even though she explained each computational step, she didn't quite explain the significance of what we were computing which in my opinion is more important for depth of understanding. A lot of my exam preparation ultimately ended up being from Youtube videos covering basic statistics concepts. Her grading scheme is split across exams, homeworks, lecture quizzes, and discussion attendance. The homeworks are graded pretty harshly and sometimes without a sufficient reason. The quizzes are easy and fact-based. The exams are mostly free response and are an accurate reflection of the content on the lecture slides. The exams are easy if you've taken Stats 10/AP stats before, but for those unfamiliar with these concepts be prepared to self-study. The final is also cumulative so make sure you refresh on pre-midterm content as she will definitely test you on it. This is a core class for comms so it is unavoidable, but not impossible to ace. You may just have to be prepared to learn the concepts on your own.
Spring 2024 - Professor Kernell structured the class so that there were in person lectures on Tuesdays (75 minutes) and virtual lectures in place of Thursday's classes (30-45 minutes). I didn't mind this layout, as it allowed more flexibility for me to learn at my own pace. However, the virtual lectures were often clearer than the in person lectures and the professor very clearly struggled to explain concepts to students. In response, she would lead us through practice problems but even though she explained each computational step, she didn't quite explain the significance of what we were computing which in my opinion is more important for depth of understanding. A lot of my exam preparation ultimately ended up being from Youtube videos covering basic statistics concepts. Her grading scheme is split across exams, homeworks, lecture quizzes, and discussion attendance. The homeworks are graded pretty harshly and sometimes without a sufficient reason. The quizzes are easy and fact-based. The exams are mostly free response and are an accurate reflection of the content on the lecture slides. The exams are easy if you've taken Stats 10/AP stats before, but for those unfamiliar with these concepts be prepared to self-study. The final is also cumulative so make sure you refresh on pre-midterm content as she will definitely test you on it. This is a core class for comms so it is unavoidable, but not impossible to ace. You may just have to be prepared to learn the concepts on your own.
Most Helpful Review
This class wasn't as bad as everyone says. Sure, I think it's stupid that the tests are so easy that the averages on the curves are ridiculous high but the class is really straight forward and not complicated. You realy don't have to read the book - he basically only tests you on material he went over in lecture (which he posts online). He made the material easy to understand - I recommend him.
This class wasn't as bad as everyone says. Sure, I think it's stupid that the tests are so easy that the averages on the curves are ridiculous high but the class is really straight forward and not complicated. You realy don't have to read the book - he basically only tests you on material he went over in lecture (which he posts online). He made the material easy to understand - I recommend him.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - PJ is a great professor overall. While I would not consider Comm 150 easy in comparison to the other upper division Comm classes for the reasons that this class is more logic, procedures, and numbers-based, the class is at an appropriate difficulty level for the topics we are covering. I would recommend refreshing on some basic stats material as the latter half of the course focuses on this. However, PJ is aware that most Comm majors aren't too familiar with heavy stats so he makes sure to go over the more confusing concepts thoroughly and answers your questions in the clearest of ways to the best of his abilities. The homework is a combination of book exercises and his own personal questions, but again, they are not too overwhelming and the amount is fair for the material covered and time given. If at any time the students express that the homework is too much, he is willing to negotiate the due date. There is a large group research project due at the end of the quarter but he goes over this well in advance and you will have plenty of time to finish. Tests are a combination of multiple choice and free response, but are subject to change. Tests are fair. If you are willing to put in the work, you should be alright. PJ is a great professor who prioritizes student learning and I would recommend others to take his course.
Winter 2016 - PJ is a great professor overall. While I would not consider Comm 150 easy in comparison to the other upper division Comm classes for the reasons that this class is more logic, procedures, and numbers-based, the class is at an appropriate difficulty level for the topics we are covering. I would recommend refreshing on some basic stats material as the latter half of the course focuses on this. However, PJ is aware that most Comm majors aren't too familiar with heavy stats so he makes sure to go over the more confusing concepts thoroughly and answers your questions in the clearest of ways to the best of his abilities. The homework is a combination of book exercises and his own personal questions, but again, they are not too overwhelming and the amount is fair for the material covered and time given. If at any time the students express that the homework is too much, he is willing to negotiate the due date. There is a large group research project due at the end of the quarter but he goes over this well in advance and you will have plenty of time to finish. Tests are a combination of multiple choice and free response, but are subject to change. Tests are fair. If you are willing to put in the work, you should be alright. PJ is a great professor who prioritizes student learning and I would recommend others to take his course.
1 of 2
